Durban - A GROUP of street traders and uMkonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association took to the streets in the Durban city on Tuesday to highlight their concerns.
Concerned Informal Vendors chairperson Themba Mkhize said the protest was about the uMkhonto weSizwe’s interference with the government and not about the street traders. He said traders outside The Workshop shopping centre in Durban were forced to close their stalls to join a march.
“The MKMVA exercises their right to freedom of expression, but the original Workshop body questions their interest in The Workshop traders. Why are they targeting only these street traders? If the MKMVA still has an alliance with traders they should go voluntarily not by force because no one can take a day off from work to support an alliance,” Mkhize said.
Durban Metro Police spokesperson Parboo Sewpersad said a group of people walked to the ANC provincial headquarters and the Durban City Hall before dispersing peacefully. He said there was no list of grievances handed to the police.
A group of men dressed in military attire also paraded past the Durban City Hall. Themba Mavundla, 50, head of the uMkhonto weSizwe Military Veterans Association in KwaZulu-Natal, said they were not involved in the protest. This was despite The Daily News showing Mavundla pictures of men dressed in military attire marching in the CBD.
Police spokesperson Captain Nqobile Gwala said about 200 MKMVA marched through the CBD.
A street trader at the Workshop, who declined to be named, said Durban Metro Police conduct sporadic spot checks for permits. He said most of the street traders, the majority of whom were from other African countries, were removed. He said there was a lot of confusion about what was happening.
Daily News